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| General Motors circa 1939 |
During the years following the civil war many new adventures
began in America, at the same time the Government began to expand and create
laws to protect America and the American people, which drove the country.
During the early 1920’s the creation of the combustible engine left the bicycle
in the dust, “At the turn of the century steam cars dominated the automotive
field” (1) But that would only lead many automotive inventors searching for
more creative ways of improving the transportation system. During these times
roads and highways were provided for people who would have automobiles this
lead to people commit crimes. “ In 1924 Arch Mandel of the Daytona Research
Association observed, “The motor vehicle has ushered in a new era of crime and police
problems and apparently a new type of offender”. (2) This colossal explosion
during these times created jobs in this industry. Even during the Great
Depression Companies like GM continued to provided across the country and to
thousands of people as cities grew the industrialization and manufacturing did
too the roaring 20’s left a mark among Americans.
Not only did the road mileage grow and house like gas
stations were created in the decade of 1930’s-1940 but also more highways and
roads that cities built because of expanding families and government. More and
more people were on the road even women drivers were given the opportunity to
have a bit of freedom, they were able to purchase automobiles and make decisions
for their families while purchasing. “ Significantly the automobile appeared at
the same time that women striving for freedom in the home and in politics” (3)
During World War I women learned to drive ambulances and helped with civil
services they also learned to work on them and built them while men were off
fighting a war. 
In the decade of the 1940’s -1950’s during World War II
automotive companies began building parts for the war instead of parts for automobiles,
jeeps, tanks and other war machines took over the assembly lines. Women were
back in the work force and once again government stood clear on their position.
These companies fought to not be taken over by the government who wanted more
and more production of war machines. “This was particularly true of Henry Ford
who initially refused to produce airplane engines for the British Royal Air
force” (4) The National Advisory Defense Committee (NADC) increased the
production at the end they realized that after the Depression there were plenty
of factories willing to take on the load and “only thirteen auto manufactures
held defense contracts” with only a small fraction being used for the war. (5)
1950-1960 created more opportunity for those coming back
from the war and for immigrants moving to America. Americans Dreams grew everywhere
with that the housing market began to rise, after all the automotive industry
grew why not territory and homes, with the end of the great depression and
world war II “A huge demand for housing” (6) Areas like Levitton in New York
which created “The Cape Cod-style homes which were built in a few standard
variations, typically offered about 750 square feet of apace and were sold for
as low as 6,990 including a washing machine” (7) This allowed many minorities
who were segregated before to step in to the American life and who to this day
continue to work and prosper even when a government created many forms of administrations
which prevented them from realizing a dream and who today finally supports its
citizens.
1. The
Automobile and American Life, Pg. 15
2. The
Automobile and American Life, Pg. 48
3. The
Automobile and American Life, Pg. 94
4. The
Automobile and American Life, Pg. 119
5. The
Automobile and American Life, Pg. 119
Jim Cullen, The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea That Shaped a Nation, 2nd Edition (New York: Oxford University Press 2004
Jim Cullen, The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea That Shaped a Nation, 2nd Edition (New York: Oxford University Press 2004
6. The
American Dream, Pg. 151
7. The
American Dream, Pg. 151
